Keynote Speaker
Brian is an award-winning event planner with over twenty years of experience in the international events industry. He is the Chief Event Architect and Creative Visionary of By BrianGreen LLC based in Atlanta creating amazing social and corporate events across the globe. He is a former Diplomat for the country of Barbados.
He was the featured guest expert on The Steve Harvey Show on Fox for their annual Wedding Hour where he presented great tips and advice on how to host the best wedding while avoiding the usual pitfalls and has been published in every major magazine in our industry.
He is one of an elite group of WeddingPro Educators. He is also an Advisor and Mentor for The Knot/ Wedding Wire’s Fellowship For Change Program.
As part of his strong activism and belief in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, he currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the National Society of Black Wedding & Event Professionals.
Sessions
Saturday Jan. 20 - 03:30pm - 05:00pm (90 min)
Rachel Sheerin, CPBA
Behavior Analyst and Keynote Speaker at RachelSheerin.com
Speaker
Better engagement, better relationships, and better results for her clients are why Rachel Sheerin is an award-winning keynote speaker, emcee, and employee engagement consultant for fast-paced teams, high-growth organizations, and driven leaders who want to enjoy the ride of success.
As a Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel's passionate about helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential and unlock the secret superpower of success: HAPPINESS!
Her continued research and motivational content around burnout and high-performing success has been featured on TED.com, seen in USA Today and experienced by over 200,000 attendees globally. Awarded NACE Speaker of the Year, Rachel's book, Better All The Time: How to Feel Good as You Live, Lead and Succeed, debuts on bookshelves in 2024.
Based in Charlotte, NC, Rachel is a huge Philly sports fan and insists on petting every dog she sees.
Sessions
Panel Speaker
Amber Allen, CPCE, is Director of Food and Beverage for Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Immediate Past President of the NACE National Board of Directors.
Sessions
Panel Speaker
Luxury Event Designer + Producer + Creative Partner, Design, Fabrication, Floral, Signage + Installations, East Coast, West Coast + the world
Sessions
Robin Denny, CPCE, CERP, MBA
Director of Sales, Mountain Region at BBJ La Tavola
Master of Ceremonies
Robin Denny, Director of Sales for BBJ LaTavola, specializes in leading and growing teams that provide their clients with outstanding service and attention to detail. With an extensive background in the world of event rental spanning 15 years, Robin firmly believes in the power of continuous learning as a crucial component of success. She holds a BA in Communication and an MBA, complemented by her professional certifications as a CERP through the ARA and a CPCE through NACE. Robin passionately advocates for education, actively participating on the education committee of MATRA and with Events U for ARA. In addition, Robin is the Immediate Past President of the Seattle NACE Chapter and has chaired the Professional Development Committee for NACE National twice. Because sleep is overrated, she is also on the Technical Advisory Board for the South Seattle College Hospitality Program. During her leisure time, Robin dedicates herself to perfecting her signature peanut butter espresso martini and seeking out hidden gems in the world of karaoke. She cheerfully steers clear of individuals who consider running a 5k on a holiday as an enjoyable pastime.
Sessions
Membership and Programs Speaker
OFD Consulting owner, Meghan Ely, CWIP (Certified Wedding Industry Professional), combines in-the-trenches event experience with a love of wedding PR to empower her clients to take their businesses to new heights. Her team’s publicity efforts are regularly honored by the Public Relations Society of America, and most recently, Meghan was named the NACE Speaker of the Year.
A long-time industry speaker and writer, she is a WeddingPro educator with The Knot + WeddingWire, as well as a regular contributor to Wedding Planner Magazine, Catersource, and SpecialEvents.com. Meghan currently serves as the 2023 International Immediate Past President for WIPA and is a member of the Allied Council for the National Society of Black Wedding and Event Professionals.
Sessions
Sunday Jan. 21 - 11:30am - 01:00pm (90 min)
Facilitator, Panel Moderator, and NACE CLC Director
Over the past 15 years, Courtney Hopper & Dana Kadwell, CPCE have built and operated three successful businesses in the Raleigh North Carolina area. Starting from the ordinary, they paved their way with sheer grit and tenacity splashed with some therapy and coffee along the way. They are on a mission to inspire others to take big leaps, dream big dreams, and create amazing teams that grow profits and an enjoyable (but productive) culture within your business.
Sessions
Sunday Jan. 21 - 11:30am - 01:00pm (90 min)
Master of Ceremonies
Morgan Montgomery, CPCE, CMP is the co-owner of Paisley & Jade, a specialty rental company serving the Mid-Atlantic since 2012. In addition to supporting 14 team members executing over 400 events per year, she also spends her time scheming how to rack up as many frequent flier miles as possible while her rescue dog, Lucey, tries to climb in her suitcase.
Sessions
Stephanie Olivares, CPCE
Senior Sales & Marketing Manager at Hard Rock Cafe San Antonio
Stephanie Olivares, CPCE has been in the catering and events industry since 2011. Stephanie is a proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she received her degree in Sport Management. After working with various sports teams and programs, Stephanie found a passion for planning and executing special events, leading her to a career in the events industry. With a passion for effective event management and strategic sales and marketing plans, Stephanie strives to create one-of-a-kind experiences in every aspect of each event. Stephanie takes pride in her relationships with clients and fellow industry members. She is an active member of the National Association for Catering and Events, serving as Immediate Past President of the NACE Alamo Chapter and serving on the NACE National Chapter Leader Council.
Sessions
Sunday Jan. 21 - 11:30am - 01:00pm (90 min)
Adam Rineer, CMP, CPCE
Associate Director, Event Operations of Canvas Meetings + Incentives
Chapter Leader Orientation
Adam Rineer, CMP, CPCE has been a NACE member for almost 20 years. He has been active with the Greater Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Delaware Chapter, Houston Chapter, and is currently the Vice President for the Ventura Chapter. Adam has served on a national level as Awards Committee Chair, Membership Committee Chair, National Secretary/Treasurer, Experience 2017 Co-Chair, Conference Advisory Committee Chair, CPCE Trainer, and is currently a CLC Mentor. He is a two-time recipient of the NACE President’s List Award, the 2015 George Zell Spirit of NACE Award, and the 2017 NACE National Member of the Year Award. Recently, he was honored with the 2023 Member of the Year by the Ventura Chapter. Adam is a career hospitality professional. He has worked for some of the most distinctive hotel brands across the country. For the majority of his career, he served in the capacity of Director of Catering, Conference Services, and Event Management. Currently, Adam is the Associate Director, Event Operations for Canvas Meetings + Incentives, where he oversees the planning and execution of events around the globe, managing a team of Strategic Meeting Managers and Meeting Planners. Committed to lifelong learning, Adam earned a Master's degree in 2021 from Western Governors University, in Management and Leadership.
Sessions
Saturday Jan. 20 - 09:30am - 11:00am (90 min)
